Ditching-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheetl. G A ySHIELDS DIT'GHING MACHINE.

' Patented Mar. 26, 18.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE A. SHIELDS, OF BRISTOL, WISCONSIN.

DITCHlNc-MACHINE.

I SPECIFICATION formngpart of Letters Patent N o. 536,401, dated March26, 1895.

Application filed November 17, 1894. Serial No. 529175. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. SHIELDs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bristol, in the county of Kenosha and State ofv Wis` cousin,have invented a new and useful Ditchlng-Machine, of which the followingis a specification.

'.:lhis invention relates to ditching machlnes; and it has for itsobject to provide a new and useful machine of this character especiallyadapted for use in connection with marshy or soft ground, for thepurpose of providing means whereby, with but a little expenditure ofpower or with one animal, open ditches can be quickly and readily dug orcleaned.

With these and other objects in view, which -will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better'understood, the same consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated, and claimed.A

In the drawings, Figure lis a perspective View of a ditching machineconstructed in accordance with this invention showing in dot ted linesthe manner in which the machine may be moved along the ground. Fig. 2 isa central longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view on the line of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspectiveof the scraper. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the Wheeledcarrier.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates an upright tracksupporting frame that is adapted to straddle or span the ditch being dugor cleaned. The said upright track supporting frame 1, essentiallycomprises a parallel series of frame uprights 2, connected at theirupper ends by the transverse cross bars 3, and the longitudinalconnecting bars 4, the latter of which bars connect the upper ends ofthe frame uprights in the same longitudinal row. The parallel connectedframe uprights 2, comprising the upright track supporting frame, aresecured on the opposite connected sled runners 5, which form a sledsupport for the track supporting frame, and which are spaced apartsufficiently so as to stand or run at both sides of the ditch, and thesaid sled affords an veasy means for per` mitting the track supportingframe to be readily moved over the groundor to shift the pootallyconnected, by means of the pivot hang- ,ers 9, the opposite sideportions of the tilting elliptical track 10. The tilting ellipticaltrack 10, is provided with a flat upper side, and is arranged to havethe opposite curved or rounded ends 1l, thereof, work Within theopposite end pairs of frame uprights 2, while the opposite side portionsof said track work outside of the intermediate frame uprights, and areadapted to be disposed along opposite banks or sides of the ditch sothat the excavated material may be dumped at both sides of the ditch inthe manner to be presently described.

The elliptical tilting track 10, is preferably pivotally connected tothe intermediate frame uprights at an eccentric point and it is weightedat one end so that such end will normally fall of its own weight to aposition vin close proximity to the ground while the opposite end willbe elevated, and to the normally depressed weighted end of the saidelliptical track is connected one end of the track hoisting rope 12,guided to pass over the cross bar for one end pair of frame uprights 2,and connected with the Winding device or capstan to be 'presentlyreferred to.

The track hoisting rope 12, provides means for elevating the normallydepressed end of the track to an elevated position, and to the other endof the track is connected the lower end of the liexible limitingconnection 13, the upper end of which is connected to one of the endcross bars of the frame and provides means for limiting the tilt of thetrack in one direction. The tilting elliptical track 10, supports fortravel thereon thewheeled carrier 14, which is provided with a pivotedhanger hook 15, that is adapted to detachably engage in the pivoted bail16, of an ordinary scoop scraper 17. The ordinary scoop scraper 17, isprovided with any suitable bail lock 18, having a trip cord connection19 therewith, whereby when the same has been carried out to either sideof the ditch by the carrier, which runs on either opposite side portionof the track from one end thereof to the other.

lVhen the scoop scraper 17, is filled, the pivoted bail thereof islocked by means of the lock 18, to prevent the scraper from tilting andlosing its contents. The bail 16, ot' the scraper is then engaged in thepivoted hanger hook 15, of the carrier, which is on the normallydepressed end portion of the track. By then operating the track hoistingropes 12, the depressed end of the track will be elevated and thecarrier with the loaded scraper will run out on either side portion ofthe track over the sides of the ditch, and at any point along the sidesof the ditch over Which the sides of the track extend, the scraper maybe dumped of its contents by tripping the lock 18. After the scraper hasbeen dumped of its contents the carrier continues to run down theinclined track to the then lower end thereof until it reaches a suitablestop projection 20, two of which are, located at one curved end of thetrack. When the carrier reaches either of, the stop projections 20, thepivoted hanger hook 15, thereof, will swing sharply against an inwardlydisposed trip arm 21, which is projected from each of the'frame uprightsat one end ofthe frame, and this engagement of saidhook l5, with thetrip arm will cause the hook to become disengaged from the bail of thescraper so as to throw the same back again into the ditch ready forbeing lled. As the track hoisting rope is eased up the track will tiltto its normal position and the carrier will `run back to its startingpoint ready foranother loaded scraper.

l/Vhile the normally depressed end of the track is being elevated withthe loaded scraper, an empty scraper is loaded by being dragged throughthe ditch bymeans of the drag rope 22. The drag rope 22, is provided atone end with the hook 23, adapted to engage the bail of theemptyscraper, andthe other end of said rope Winds4 and unwind's on thecapstan 24, in the same direction as the track hoisting rope 12, thatalso Winds and unwinds on said capstan.

The capstan 24, isof any ordinary construction operated by the sweep 25,andis mou nted on the sled frame 26, which is of a sufficient width tospan the ditch in front of the track. The sled frame 26, that carriesthe capstan is also provided with a circular walk 27, for the animal, sothat the animal operating the capstan will not have to Walk in the mudor soft mire of marshy ground, and the Weight of the animal on the sledframe will generally be suliicient to` hold the capstan properly inplace while operating the tilting track and the empty scoop Scrapers.

The sleds for the capstan and track supporting frame, may be readilyshifted as the work progresses, in any suitable manner, but by carryingthe drag rope 22, that is used for loading the scrapers forward andengaging the hookthereof with a suitable anchor 28, as illustrated indotted lines, the animal operatf ing the sweep 25, can drag the machinealong to the position desired.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to Without departiugifrom the principle or sacrificinganyof the advantages of this invention.`

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a ditching machine, a track supporting frame adapted to span aditch, a tilt-ing track mounted `on said frame, a carrier arranged totravel on said track, a scraper adapted lo be detachably connected withsaid carrier, means for tiltingthe track, and means for automaticallydisconnecting the scraper from the carrier, substantially as set forth.

2. In a ditching machine, a track supporting frame adapted to` span aditch, a tilting trackpivotally supported on the frame and normallytilted in one direction, means for tilting said track in an oppositedirection, a wheeled carrier i arranged on said track, the scraperadapted to be detachably connected with said carrier, and means fordisconnecting the scraper from the carrier to precipitate the formerinto the ditch, substantially as set forth.

`; 3.` In a ditching machine, a track supporting frame adapted to span aditch, a tilting .elliptical track mounted on said frame,`and

ascraper carrier arranged to travel on the track, substantially as` setforth.

4:. In a ditching machine, a track supportingframe, an elliptical trackpivotally mounted on said frame and normally tilted in one direction,means for tilting said track in an opposite direction, awheeled carrierarranged on said track,a scraper adapted to be detachably connected withsaid carrier, and means for automatically` disconnecting the scraperfrom the carrier at one end of the track, substantially as set forth.

5. In a ditching machine, the combination of a track supporting frame, atrack pivotally mounted on said frame and normally tilted inonedirection, atrack hoisting rope connected with the normally depressedend of the track to` elevate the same, a carrier arranged to travel onthe. track, the scraper adapted to be detachably connected with thecarrier, a drag rope adapted to be connected with the empty scraper, andoperating means for simultaneously operating thetrack hoisting and dragropes to elevate or tilt the track in one direction at the same time theempty scraper is being filled, substantially as set forth.

6. In a ditching machine, the combination of the track supporting framearranged on a sledand comprising opposite parallel connected framenprights, the intermediate of which nprights are provided With outwardlydisposed supporting arms, an elliptical tilting IOO IIO

track pivotally suspended from said supporting arms and normally tiltedin one direction, a flexible limiting connection with one end of saidtrack, a sled supported capstan device, separate track hoisting and dragropes 'connected with said capstan device, and the former of which ropesis connected with the normally depressed end of the track, the carrier,and the scraper detachably connected with the carrier, substantially asset forth.

7. In a ditching machine, a track supporting frame provided at one endwith opposite inwardly disposed trip arms, a tilting track pivotallymounted on the frame and provided` at one end with separated stopprojections,

means for tilting said track; a carrier ar my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE A. SHIELDS.

Witnesses:

EDWARD JONES, HARRY E. BAIN.

